Iowa

The
story of Iowa started long before people ever lived on the land. Earthquakes,
volcanoes, floods and ice helped form the landscape of this area for over
1 billion years. Nomadic people roamed what is now Iowa nearly 12,000 years
ago, hunting large mammals like mammoths, mastodons and caribou. About 2,500
years ago, people gradually started settling near rivers as they learned farming
techniques, beginning our agricultural tradition. The rivers turned into transportation
routes for trade, which brought European trappers, traders and explorers in
the late 1600s.

The past 200 years have seen settlers
coming to Iowa from across the world to farm the land, make a home and become
Iowans. Small towns and big cities flourished. Today Iowa has more communities
than almost any other state. New immigrants continue to change the face of
our state. Iowa's foundation in education continues to develop workers, artists,
innovators and leaders. The people, products and ideas of the state continue
to change our nation and the world.

After thousands of years of Iowa
history, there are many stories to be told. There are stories about schools
and businesses, people and communities, wars and government, artistic endeavors
and transportation systems, agricultural enterprises and environmental changes.
All of these things make up the story of Iowa. But the true story of Iowa
is your own.